In the recent years the research in the domain of nature’s paradigm and their useful application for the benefit of human beings is focused around the world. Popularly it is known as Biomimicry. The term Biomimetics only entered the Webster’s Dictionary in 1974 and is defined as "the study of the formation, structure, or function of biologically produced substances and materials (as enzymes or silk) and biological mechanisms and processes (as protein synthesis or photosynthesis) especially for the purpose of synthesizing similar products by artificial mechanisms which mimic natural ones".
(Ref. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biomimicry ; July 6, 2012)

Plate 3 Leonardo de Vinci’s Concept of Helicopter Design

Design Paradigm and Biomimicry are quite close areas that look into the basic forms, their functional relationship and behaviour. Leonardo’s design of Helicopter (plate 3) is an example of complex paradigms, which is based on various natures’ paradigms.  There is no contradiction between the above two area of research- Design Paradigm and Biomimicry. Design Paradigm intends to apply the functioning of nature’s paradigm into design practices while Biomimicry try to find out the scientific principles and the fundamentals which may be applied in other fields.